Flavor of the minute

[justginger]

Seems there's a lot of interest in spess at the moment. Have we found the next sapphire?

Thanks to a tip by NKOTB, I've contacted a vendor about this stone:



This is what has been said about it - It is precision cut in the USA in a custom square cushion. 2.68cts, VVS Type 2, very lightly included. The piece is more orange in person than in the photo. No secondary tones at all. NO brown or yellow or red. Just mandarin orange. Origin is Nigeria.

I am TERRIBLE at detecting secondary colors, enhancement, extinction, and just about everything else that matters when interpreting online photos. What do you ladies (guys?) with more discerning eyes think?

 

[T L]

Seems there's a lot of interest in spess at the moment. Have we found the next sapphire?

Thanks to a tip by NKOTB, I've contacted a vendor about this stone:



This is what has been said about it - It is precision cut in the USA in a custom square cushion. 2.68cts, VVS Type 2, very lightly included. The piece is more orange in person than in the photo. No secondary tones at all. NO brown or yellow or red. Just mandarin orange. Origin is Nigeria.

I am TERRIBLE at detecting secondary colors, enhancement, extinction, and just about everything else that matters when interpreting online photos. What do you ladies (guys?) with more discerning eyes think?

I think it's pretty, but it doesn't look like the Fanta color everyone seems to want these days. I see brown and red. A lot of vendors can't see modifiers either (I learned that the hard way). Orange is difficult to photograph though.

 

[colorluvr]

I am the last person to give advice on color, especially on Spessartites. I like the cut and it's a nice size. I agree with your description of it being Mandarin (assuming there is no red or yellow like you stated). I also agree with TL, that it's not the color of "Fanta" soda, but that may not be what you are looking for.

I know the definition of those two colors is all over the board regarding these stones and even differs greatly between vendors, but the important thing is, Do YOU like it? If you do, then you've got a winner in my book!

 

[minousbijoux]

In this case, I would trust the vendor - if he says its Fanta, then I would definitely want to see it in hand.

 

[kenny]

I Googled Fanta orange images to see what that color would look like and there was a pic of this "jewelry".

 

[chrono]

I see both brown and red in the picture but the vendor said there's no modifier, correct? If so, this stone could be worth a look. How about a handshot under natural lighting? Cut is really nice though.

 

[ColoredStonesLady]

I see a bit of brown on my screen. But I guess the only way to tell is IRL! I LOVE the cut - very unique for a spess.

I hear that the Pantone color for 2012 is "Tangerine Tango", which looks alot like Fanta. That could explain spessartite's moment in the sun! I have seen a lot of orange and other bright colors being trotted out for spring/ summer collections. Has anyone else seen this??

 

[VapidLapid]

If you decide pass on it will you tell me who the vendor is?

 

[minousbijoux]

VL - shoot me an email message and I'll tell you who it is.

 

[justginger]

VL, it's Jason at Select Gem. He's been lovely in all correspondence.

 

[T L]

VL, it's Jason at Select Gem. He's been lovely in all correspondence.

I bought a spess from Jason, and he said it had no modifiers and was pure orange mandarin fanta, etc. . . but it did have reddish and brown in it to my eyes. I almost returned it, but I decided to keep it because it looked like a piece of hot lava and it was flawless, and I loved the cutting. I suspect the one you're getting might be like mine, and I think you'll like it, but the photo is definitely not mandarin or fanta color.

I agree he is a great vendor, and very nice to deal with though.

 

[T L]

I Googled Fanta orange images to see what that color would look like and there was a pic of this "jewelry".

With Fanta color, I would not look at the soda itself, as much the wrapper. I was at the store, and I noticed the large 2 liter bottles of Fanta soda were much more neon in color than the smaller individual drink serving bottles. For a true approximation of nice spess color, I think those orange traffic cones are pretty right on. Can we make up a new marketing name? Traffic cone garnet??

 

[justginger]

That's good to know, TL - I'm going to have a look around to see pictures of your's (if they've been posted). Honestly, if the natural light photos don't show a stone I LOVE, I'm going to pass on it. Even with a full refund policy, the cost of international shipping and insurance both ways adds up very quickly - and the stone itself isn't particularly cheap. He said to expect more photos in the next few days, as the stone is still with the cutter. I must admit it does have a certain something that I like though.

 

[justginger]

Oh no, TL - I had a look at your photos and I want the REALLY, REALLY GOOD ONE you have! That haloed pear you have is the absolute epitome of what I want in a spess. How in the world can I find something like THAT?? I'm happy to pay for it...but where can I find it??

 

[T L]

That's good to know, TL - I'm going to have a look around to see pictures of your's (if they've been posted). Honestly, if the natural light photos don't show a stone I LOVE, I'm going to pass on it. Even with a full refund policy, the cost of international shipping and insurance both ways adds up very quickly - and the stone itself isn't particularly cheap. He said to expect more photos in the next few days, as the stone is still with the cutter. I must admit it does have a certain something that I like though.

This is my stone but the vendor photo was more fanta.

Jason sometimes uses vendor photos from his gem sources, so I don't think it was his.

 

[T L]

Oh no, TL - I had a look at your photos and I want the REALLY, REALLY GOOD ONE you have! That haloed pear you have is the absolute epitome of what I want in a spess. How in the world can I find something like THAT?? I'm happy to pay for it...but where can I find it??

I bought the pear over ten years ago, from a gem show. It was in a parcel of very included gems, and this was the cleanest by far. It is traffic cone orange, but my photos of it aren't that great. Thanks for the kind words. I think Andrew Sarosi might have similar material. I've seen his material in person and it looks like my pear.

 

[anythingorange]

Oh no, TL - I had a look at your photos and I want the REALLY, REALLY GOOD ONE you have! That haloed pear you have is the absolute epitome of what I want in a spess. How in the world can I find something like THAT?? I'm happy to pay for it...but where can I find it??

I bought the pear over ten years ago, from a gem show. It was in a parcel of very included gems, and this was the cleanest by far. It is traffic cone orange, but my photos of it aren't that great. Thanks for the kind words. I think Andrew Sarosi might have similar material. I've seen his material in person and it looks like my pear.

I contacted Marc Sarosi from Africa Gems recently to ask if he had any stones from Namibia. He said he had zero...sold his last one in Hong Kong earlier this year. (But I'm sure he has stones from other regions that are great.)

 

[NKOTB]

That's good to know, TL - I'm going to have a look around to see pictures of your's (if they've been posted). Honestly, if the natural light photos don't show a stone I LOVE, I'm going to pass on it. Even with a full refund policy, the cost of international shipping and insurance both ways adds up very quickly - and the stone itself isn't particularly cheap. He said to expect more photos in the next few days, as the stone is still with the cutter. I must admit it does have a certain something that I like though.

This is my stone but the vendor photo was more fanta.

Jason sometimes uses vendor photos from his gem sources, so I don't think it was his.

Wait, this is yours from Jason?! This is my favourite! Argh, maybe i shouldn't have passed, lol. WHERE is that money tree when I need it? Please let me know if you're ever going to sell this one, TL!

 

[T L]

That's good to know, TL - I'm going to have a look around to see pictures of your's (if they've been posted). Honestly, if the natural light photos don't show a stone I LOVE, I'm going to pass on it. Even with a full refund policy, the cost of international shipping and insurance both ways adds up very quickly - and the stone itself isn't particularly cheap. He said to expect more photos in the next few days, as the stone is still with the cutter. I must admit it does have a certain something that I like though.

This is my stone but the vendor photo was more fanta.

Jason sometimes uses vendor photos from his gem sources, so I don't think it was his.

Wait, this is yours from Jason?! This is my favourite! Argh, maybe i shouldn't have passed, lol. WHERE is that money tree when I need it? Please let me know if you're ever going to sell this one, TL!

Thanks!! I have considered selling it but I do think that at 3.5 carats and flawless, it is probably a valuable commodity (not an investment, but you never know). I have the stone loose now because I didn't think it's shape fit that halo well, but the color does remind me of spacecraft photos of the sun. I have to set it again. I have to say that it looks really good in white metal, which is a rarity for most spess. I wouldn't discount really nice reddish orange spessartites, or nice yellowish orange ones.

 

[T L]

Here's another photo of a beautiful reddish orange spessartite. These stones can be quite beautiful when they're not overly brown like typical spessartite.

 

[movie zombie]

there is nothing wrong with hot lava color spess....... while mine is not such a one, i wouldn't mind having one. or hot red coal spess for that matter.

 

[chrono]

For me, as long as it is well saturated, I don't mind if the stone is reddish orange or yellowish orange. Both have their appeal. Both can burn in their own ways. It is the brown modifiers that I dislike.

 

[minousbijoux]

That's good to know, TL - I'm going to have a look around to see pictures of your's (if they've been posted). Honestly, if the natural light photos don't show a stone I LOVE, I'm going to pass on it. Even with a full refund policy, the cost of international shipping and insurance both ways adds up very quickly - and the stone itself isn't particularly cheap. He said to expect more photos in the next few days, as the stone is still with the cutter. I must admit it does have a certain something that I like though.

This is my stone but the vendor photo was more fanta.

Jason sometimes uses vendor photos from his gem sources, so I don't think it was his.

Its interesting how different our eyes are. Although I love that stone - and would certainly cherish it if you gave it to me - I would not classify that as fanta, as it seems a little too reddish for me. It also looks like it has an ever so slight brown modifier, but that might just be in that photo.

I also don't know that i would agree that traffic cone color is fanta - now that I pay attention, most of them are just slightly devoid of enough yellow to my eye to classify them as fanta. Mandarin yes; fanta no. But the one you posted that looks like its on fire I WANT! (pardon the yelling; its just that I got too excited).

Oh, TL, you know i love your stones and am saying this only to continue the conversation, not because I'm trying to be critical. Plus if there is someone who I know can handle different opinions, it is you.

 

[T L]

That's good to know, TL - I'm going to have a look around to see pictures of your's (if they've been posted). Honestly, if the natural light photos don't show a stone I LOVE, I'm going to pass on it. Even with a full refund policy, the cost of international shipping and insurance both ways adds up very quickly - and the stone itself isn't particularly cheap. He said to expect more photos in the next few days, as the stone is still with the cutter. I must admit it does have a certain something that I like though.

This is my stone but the vendor photo was more fanta.

Jason sometimes uses vendor photos from his gem sources, so I don't think it was his.

Its interesting how different our eyes are. Although I love that stone - and would certainly cherish it if you gave it to me - I would not classify that as fanta, as it seems a little too reddish for me. It also looks like it has an ever so slight brown modifier, but that might just be in that photo.

I also don't know that i would agree that traffic cone color is fanta - now that I pay attention, most of them are just slightly devoid of enough yellow to my eye to classify them as fanta. Mandarin yes; fanta no. But the one you posted that looks like its on fire I WANT! (pardon the yelling; its just that I got too excited).

Oh, TL, you know i love your stones and am saying this only to continue the conversation, not because I'm trying to be critical. Plus if there is someone who I know can handle different opinions, it is you.

I admitted earlier in this thread that it's not fanta, or I admitted something akin to that (I forgot what I wrote). It is definitely not traffic cone, fanta, etc. . . color. I think I posted that to show an example of the kind of color I was seeing in the top vendor photo, which is definitely not fanta to my eyes. I decided on keeping it though as it was a nice size, 3.5 carats, nice color, and very well cut, despite the non-Fanta color. I posted this also because it was sold to me as the same vendor who is selling the stone at the top, and he described my stone to me (before I saw it IRL) as a "true mandarin" color. I told him it wasn't when I received it.

I never take offense if people don't like my stones, or see something about them that isn't optimal to their eyes. Everyone has different tastes. It's good to be honest, and not sugar coat the truth.

Also, to everyone, you have to be careful because my color stone above is regarded by many many vendors to be mandarin and fanta, and to me, and a lot of other spessartite collectors, they're not. This reddish orange color comes primarily from Nigeria.

As for traffic cone vs Fanta, I tried to think of the item that consistently looks the most pure orange to me, and that would be traffic cones. I suppose not all traffic cones are identical, and some are not as pure an orange hue as others, but for the most part, they are pretty neon orange in order to be easily seen in traffic. I've actually seen brownish orange Fanta soda so it depends on the bottler, and the country it's bottled in. In that case, I think Fanta can be very subjective depending on where you get your soda.

 

[justginger]

It's funny...orange varies! I am wanting the neon orange of a Fanta wrapper, though to my eyes, it has just a touch of yellow (to make it pop). Traffic cones around here are too dark to be comparable, but I remember the glowing orange, shiny plastic cones from home and that's definitely the "right" color.

 

[T L]

It's funny...orange varies! I am wanting the neon orange of a Fanta wrapper, though to my eyes, it has just a touch of yellow (to make it pop). Traffic cones around here are too dark to be comparable, but I remember the glowing orange, shiny plastic cones from home and that's definitely the "right" color.

In the United States, the Fanta wrapper shifts from a yellowish orange to a more pure neon orange. It's funny how even the wrappers probably differ in the various countries. You're from Down Under, correct?

Well, you know you're an avid spess collector if you analyze Fanta wrappers.

 

[justginger]

Yes, Down Under now, but grew up in the States...so I have knowledge of both country's versions of Fantas and road cones (though here they call road cones "witches' hats"). Not sure what witches wear fluoro orange hats, but when in Rome...

I've contacted a couple more people about ORANGE material, but I suspect it will be a long, difficult search.

 

[minousbijoux]

Has anyone recently contacted Swala to see what they have? So many people seem to be looking these days and my memory is bad so I can't remember whether Swala has been mentioned at all. I know you or someone contacted Marc Sarosi recently. I'm just thinking the closer to the source the better...

 

[justginger]

I've been in touch with Eric for a week or so about a different project and just tacked on a request to check inventory for a Fanta-esque stone as well. He's abroad ATM and will be back in touch when he gets to Tanzania on Tuesday. Great minds think alike though. I love Swala's stuff.

 

[T L]

I've been in touch with Eric for a week or so about a different project and just tacked on a request to check inventory for a Fanta-esque stone as well. He's abroad ATM and will be back in touch when he gets to Tanzania on Tuesday. Great minds think alike though. I love Swala's stuff.

He specializes in mainly Tanzanian material, which is often yellowish orange, so just keep that in mind. He may have a more orange one though, but they're pretty rare and pricey.